A guide to the deep-water sponges of - NMFS Scientific Publications ...

42 Professional Paper NMFS 12
26. Craniella spinosa Lambe, 1893
Description. Sponge is globular with many short,
sharp spines. It typically attaches to other sponges via
the spines. Characteristic of the genus, the internal arrangement
of spicule bundles is strictly radial with bundles
supporting the ectosomal conules, which are less
than 1 mm in height. The surface is formed by a special
cortex. Dermal oxeas form a palisade perpendicular
to the surface. Spicule bundles protrude through the
conules and diverge. Diameter is to 16–18 mm. Color
in life is white or creamy white.
Skeletal structure. There are large oxeas (2300–4800
× 23–42 µm) with unequal ends, both ends acute but
one end filiform, cortical oxeas (685–1230 × 35–47
µm), protriaenes (3400–5700 µm long), anatriaenes
(up to 8000 µm long rhabdomes). Microscleres are
c- and s-shaped sigmaspires with a maximum diameter
of 11–14 µm.
Zoogeographic distribution. Uncommon. In Alaska –
Bering Sea (Pribilof Canyon). Elsewhere – originally described
from Vancouver Island. Reportedly occurs from
the Aleutian Islands to British Columbia (Austin, 1985).
Habitat. In Alaska – a cryptic species; epizoic on
Myxilla pedunculata and probably other sponges at a
depth of 236 m. Elsewhere – depths ranging from 36 to
76 m (Vancouver Island).
Photo. 1) Specimen collected at a depth of 236 m in
Pribilof Canyon, Bering Sea. Specimen is attached to
the demosponge Myxilla pedunculata.